Dick
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- May 22, 1999
- Messages
- 9,928
- Real Name
- Rick
There have been terrific DVD releases of foreign-language films in the past few years, most of them from Criterion, Anchor Bay and Kino, and even Columbia. But, with Fox Lorber gone, will we ever see THE PATHFINDER in widescreen? And between Criterion and Home Vision, might we look forward to ALLEGRO NON TROPPO; FIRES ON THE PLAIN and UGETSU? (Or, for that matter, two British classics released on laser by Criterion, 49th PARALLEL and IN WHICH WE SERVE). Then we have two Spanish films starring young Anna Torrent, CRIA and SPIRIT OF THE BEEHIVE. What about TREE OF THE WOODEN CLOGS and GATE OF HELL? God, this list could go on forever. Doubtless some of these titles will emerge, but I worry a few will get lost. Kurosawa gets great coverage on DVD, but Kineto Shindo (ONIBABA) or Masaki Kobayashi (SEPPUKU aka HARAKIRI) don't. THE MAD ADVENTURES OF RABBI JACOB gets DVD release in Canada, but not in the States. Personally, I can't get enough good/great foreign language films - to me they are far more interesting than the majority of their American counterparts, because they are willing to explore relationships in more depth, to hold the camera still for a while to let the performances blossom, to rely more on story than effects. This may be only recently changing, but I watch my 50's-80's DVD collection growing more rapidly with foreign titles than anything else.